LAUNCHING THE ERASMUS +

Zagreb Sport Association for Persons with Disabilities is a coordinator of the project Change Your Mindset-Sport4Everyone co-funded by the Erasmus+ Sport programme of the European Union.

The project has been launched on 1 January 2017, but it was revealed at today's press conference in the City Administrative Body in Zagreb (Croatia).
The aim of the project is social inclusion of young people with disabilities (age of 15 to 29) and to raise awareness regarding benefits of participation in sport recreational activities for young people with disabilities in terms of social inclusion and health-enhancing physical activity.
The project with a duration of 18 months (1 January 2017 – 30 June 2018) brings together eight partners from seven European countries: Austria, Croatia, Italy, Macedonia, Montenegro, Slovenia and Serbia. The total value of the project is 500.000,00€.

Secretary General of the Zagreb Sport Association for Persons with Disabilities, Mirela Šikoronja Ivančin is opening the press conference

Family photo of key stakeholders representatives

„Target groups are not only young people with disabilities, but also those who are in close everyday contact with them: physicians and physiotherapists, kinesiologists and physical education teachers in elementary schools, high schools and at universities. Special focus is put on parents. Throughout the working experience we have noticed that parents, due to potential sport injuries, don't motivate children on practising sport even though it positively influences on physical and mental health, prevent non-communicable diseases and last but not least – provide opportunities for social inclusion.” highlights Mirela Šikoronja Ivančin, Secretary General of the Zagreb Sport Association for Persons with Disabilities. Mr Milan Bandić, Mayor of Zagreb has given generous support for this project together with Ms Katarina Milković, Assistant to Head of Education in Zagreb and Josip Držaić, president of Zagreb Sport Association for Persons with Disabilities.
„Congratulations to Zagreb Sport Association for Persons with Disabilities for successful launching the project for promotion of sport activities and social inclusion of persons with disabilities within the society. Personally, I always contemplate about the importance of practising sport because it helps healthy lifestyle, especially of those with certain disabilities.

Adaptive sport activities can successfully prevent stereotypes of citizens, enhance physical and mental health and engage persons with disabilities in active citizenship“ underlines the Mayor of Zagreb, Mr Milan Bandić.
In addition, the support for the project is also given by Central State Office for Sport. Its Head of Service for International Cooperation and the EU Funding, Ms Marija Crnković attended the conference. Mr Nikola Dragaš and Zdenko Antunović, the president and Secretary General of the Zagreb Sport Association were present as well.
One part of project's activities is a 3 days training module where experts coming from relevant sectors will explain why practising sport matters to persons with disabilities. The audience will target persons with disabilities and family members, family physicians and physical education teachers.

Mayor of Zagreb, Mr Milan Bandić is giving the speech

President of Zagreb Sport Association for Persons with Disabilities, Mr Josip Držaić is thanking for support.

In addition, there will be 2 days round tables with policy and decision makers at national and local level and a final conference In Zagreb (Croatia, June 2018) which will be a showcase of sport and physical activities for persons with disabilities.
Partners of the project are:
⦁ Italian Table Tennis Federation,
⦁ Paralympic Committee of Slovenia,
⦁ Macedonian Paralympic Committee,
⦁ Paralympic Committee of Montenegro,
⦁ Austrian Table Tennis Association,
⦁ Paralympic Committee of Serbia and
⦁ Civil society organization ECHO from Croatia